How Strong is Strong Enough?

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 06:54:17 -0500

In the military we require our Soldiers to conduct physical training, both in group format and individually, on and off duty. Many of our Soldiers choose strength training as a method to satisfy these requirements.

As with anything, Soldiers who experience progression in these areas want more, which begs the questions; What is strong enough? What cost are you willing to pay to be better, stronger, faster than your seniors, peers, and subordinates alike?

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Nov 24 at 2015 7:37 AM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 07:37:41 -0500

Myself, I just want to stay in shape. I try not to go overboard with what I do. I keep reachable goals.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Nov 24 at 2015 8:33 AM

PO1 John Miller — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:33:07 -0500

One can never be too strong. They just have to balance it out with cardio training and make sure they don't become too "musclebound." You know, those guys (and gals) who are so muscular that they can't pass a tape test because their lat muscles are so big it affects their waistline.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 8:35 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 08:35:48 -0500

I'd say it depends on your goal(s). Since I've ETSed, my goal has been to become stronger in key lifts than I was before I joined the military. Now that I've achieved that, functionality is my primary goal - Grip and core strength. "Strong enough" is when I feel comfortable using periodization to cycle to another goal. . . until I cycle back to strength training.

Response by Cpl Shane Cunningham made Nov 24 at 2015 9:33 AM

Cpl Shane Cunningham — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 09:33:40 -0500

It's rough in the Marine Corps. Even if you're a tank you can still be considered fat because you weigh over and then our screwed up taping system. They want beasts while deployed and birches while in garrison

Response by SFC Stephen King made Nov 24 at 2015 11:23 AM

SFC Stephen King — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 11:23:02 -0500

SGM Private RallyPoint Member I believe Strength is relative (see article). I want to be able to lift the world (jk). It is based on your individual goals. If your training for a competition and a specific weight class set goals daily, weekly and monthly. I base my training on these 4 lifts overhead press standing, dead-lift, squat and bench. So at 47 yrs looking at these core lifts one must be mental tough as well as physically strong.

http://johnbarban.com/strength-is-relative-sort-of/

Strength Is Relative...Sort of | JohnBarban.com

Bigger muscles are stronger muscles, but there are many other factors that contribute to strength.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 1:30 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 13:30:52 -0500

In my opinion, the target should be functional movement. If you are an Infantryman, standard tests like obstacle courses and marches under load measure where a unit is at nicely.
As a general guideline:
1. Ability to move with a full combat load a set distance in a fixed amount of time. Set standards by reasonable expectation of operational requirements based on TO&E and Mission.
2. Ability to carry or drag a wounded Soldier with full load 100 meters in a fixed amount of time.
3. Ability to perform hard tasks routinely that can be expected in a unit, such as moving a spare tire, a load of mortar rounds, or loading a 155mm shell in a howitzer.
4. Mental strength to withstand the elements, or lack of sleep, for days or weeks at a time.

Other standards should be established by the Commander and overseen by the First Sergeant.
I like holding competitions to see who's who in the zoo and build esprit.
It is important to not over train, because you lose functional agility and often induce injuries.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 4:30 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 16:30:48 -0500

If i was in charge, I would base the whole pt test around weight lifting and sprints. You can never be to strong because your body has to carry all that gear not to mentioned you might have to carry, pull, or drag a buddy. Deadlift, squat, bench and sprints would be my PT test if I was in charge

Response by SSgt Paul Esquibel made Nov 24 at 2015 6:33 PM

SSgt Paul Esquibel — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 18:33:47 -0500

I think it's all based off your perception of what is "strong enough" for yourself, do you want to achieve a bodybuilder type of fitness and body or a power lifter or be strong but functional. To me being a "Big" guy I simply embraced that I'll never have a 6 pack and I'll never be cut up, so as individual you have to set what you think is acceptable for you and what you can maintain. Personally I stay strong and keep my cardio high, my goals are running my 1.5 in 12min while weighing between 255-265, to me that's manageable. For others they may want to be the biggest guy or the most P90X looking guy or girl. Within the realm of the military, I think fitness should play to mission and the individual and career field, say for example in the AF you work as a desk job, when you deploy you don't deploy to hostile zone but more supportive bases, your not required to be a functional as say a PJ or Combat Controller just pass your annual test, so your given the opportunity for more options to explore for power lifting and bodybuilding but if you have a career field like say EOD which requires stamina and functionality then perhaps Power Lifting isn't the way to go and more circuit and body weight exercising is best. In the end it's all about what you can manage and for how long, as we get older it's not that we get weaker it the wear and tear on the joints of muscles that wear down. 10 years ago I'd be shooting for 400lbs on Incline Press today, I'm happy with 225 for 12......lol.

Response by SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres made Nov 24 at 2015 8:31 PM

SGT Jose Perdelia-Torres — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 20:31:23 -0500

I am willing to pay any cost except in violation of the Seven Army Values and my personal beliefs. As long as it is within legal realms and Military accordance, I will pay any cost. True strength is the ability to protect yourself and those around you. That is priceless. Using steroids, is a no go; since it violates the rules and regulations of the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

I hope I answered your question, I didn't know what answer was expected.

Response by SrA Art Siatkowsky made Nov 25 at 2015 2:23 AM

SrA Art Siatkowsky — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 02:23:30 -0500

Strong enough to wear a Ironman battle suit when they are done! But dont forget the cardio..

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 25 at 2015 6:27 AM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 06:27:08 -0500

Isn't "Army Strong", strong enough?

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 7:51 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 07:51:42 -0500

Set a realistic goal with a plan to get there. When you achieve that goal, reassess and set the next goal to achieve. If you go with small steps, you are more likely to achieve them, feel mentally better as well as physically stronger, and have a better desire to maintain your training at whatever level you feel is best.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2016 5:40 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 05:40:50 -0400

A slightly different way to phrase this question is one that gets asked in my clinics all the time, "how fit do you need to be?" Some measure fitness in terms of strength, that's probably one of the best ways to define it for an active population. However, I challenge some people's notion of fitness when I tell them they aren't "fit enough" to sit in their chair for hours at a time and do their JOB. Sitting is not normal, but then again, neither is loading ammo cans in the back of a truck - unless it's your job. IOT sit for prolonged periods of time, you have to have enough fitness like 1SG Private RallyPoint Member mentioned in his post on functional movements. You have to have goals in mind like SGT Private RallyPoint Member and SFC Private RallyPoint Member noted.
Goals get to the root of the issue, admin people need a base level of fitness too so we need a base level of movement and fitness because we're human.
Great question SGM Private RallyPoint Member and great answers in this thread.